We’re close to the end of our annual “Adopt-a-Family or the Holidays” drive, but we haven’t heard from many of you about your plans. We need everyone who can to participate, and we are approaching crisis time to fulfill our commitment.

While Columbia High School is partnering with us to adopt a five-member family for the Circles of Mercy project, our club has accepted just two needs: (1.) A two-person family (mother and child) to care for. (2.) And, putting together 50-100 personal hygiene kits that Circles distributes each holiday season. But,  we need to know how many each member will create and we still are in the dark about that because of the unexpected lack of responses from many of you.

We have only the next two SRC dinner meetings left (December 6 and 13) to donate the gifts, which Bill and April Dowd are collecting to deliver to Circles of Mercy by that family support organization’s deadline.

Here’s what you need to know to help:

PERSONAL HYGIENE KIT / CIRCLES OF MERCY

Each kit should contain all the items below and be small enough to fit into a backpack pocket with ease. Odorless products are best due to allergies. Items to be placed in Glad-brand zip-lock heavy duty bags (one gallon size). All need to be travel-sized containers of:

• shampoo
• hair conditioner
• toothpaste
• dental floss
• toothbrush
• breath strips
• mouthwash
• small first-aid kit (i.e. assorted Band-Aids and antiseptic such as Neosporin)
• very small travel-size sewing kit (minimum thread and needle)
• deodorant
• soap or body wash
• hand sanitizer
• lotion
• lip balm (such as Chapstick)
• combs, brushes and hair bands
  

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Please put together your kits and bring them to this week’s meeting or next week’s. After that, it’s too late.

As to the family of two, several members have pledged several items from the “needs” and “nice to have” wish list, but we need a few more. Here is the original shopping list we sent you several times:

All we have so far are the gift cards, a hoody, and some socks and gloves for mom, and the “Magic the Gathering” cards for the child. Obviously that is not enough to create a happy holiday for these people who are far less fortunate than we.

Please respond to this email ASAP to let us know (a) if you will help at all, and (b) what you plan to bring to one of  the next two SRC dinner meetings.

We need your help in the true spirit of Rotary. This is an excellent opportunity for SRC members who are less involved than the core of members who do the bulk of the heavy lifting to keep us viable as a community service organization.

Thank you for all you do. Every bit helps your fellow human beings.

Getting ready to do some holiday entertaining> Most folks enjoy a good cup of specialty coffee at such times, but that cup has to start with a good bag of coffee.

For the third year, Phil Kellerman is offering the popular Sweetwater Coffee, an organic/fair trade product, to raise funds for our friends at the Capital Region Nordic Alliance (CRNA) who offer adaptive sports for disabled military vets and others.

The price is $15 per 12-ounce bag, or two for $25. Phil will be bringing two varieties — the medium Carpe Diem Blend ground and the darker Midnight Oil Blend whole beans. Both are USDA-certified organic, and are 100% Arabica beans.

Not only are these coffees great for personal consumption, they also make great holiday gifts.

For more information, members can contact Phil by calling 352-262-5421 or by emailing him at philkellerman77@gmail.com.

Interested in a Spring getaway to warmer climes without the hassle of international flights and major expenses? If so, you can get a one-week stay at a major Florida resort — a package worth more than $2,500 — for just $20.

OK, there is a catch. You have to purchase the winning raffle ticket in the benefit for District 7190’s annual Foundation Dinner.

That winning ticket will earn a stay at the Westgate Town Center Resort & Spa in Kissimee, FL, for the week of April 15-22, 2018.

The package includes round-trip air for two people from Albany International Airport; the use of a two-bedroom condominium complete with full kitchen, living room, dining room, and lanai; free transportation to all theme parks (Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World) in the area, to premium outlets, and more. The resort has 14 swimming pools with poolside continental breakfast on designated mornings.

One raffle ticket sells for $20, three tickets for $50, 10 tickets for $100. The drawing will be held at the Foundation Dinner, but you need not be present to win.

The dinner itself will be held  on Thursday, November 16, at the 90 State Street event space (it’s the former Mohawk National Bank building, and the address is the same as the name of the venue) in downtown Albany. Free valet parking will be available.

Dinner reservations must be made online (scroll down on that page to the schedule), and raffle tickets also may be purchased the same way. Reservation deadline is November 6.

The theme of this year’s dinner is “People of Action,” which Rotarians certainly are. The keynote speaker will be be Anne Riechert, a Rotary Peace Scholar, who will join us from Germany where she is working with Syrian refugees.

“Project Legos,” meant to refresh the spirit of Xavier Schmitt, Debbie and Chuck Rodriguez’s grandson, as he goes through a three-year-long, arduous treatment for leukemia, continues to do its work.

In this latest photo, Xavier, now home after another lengthy hospital stay, clearly is enjoying the most recent addition to his Legos collection.

“Project Legos” was conceived and originally funded by Jim Leyhane, who continues to handle the research and purchasing of various Legos kits. Anyone who wishes to help defray the costs of this ongoing effort can contact Jim directly.

And, of course, it can only help to send out good thoughts and prayers to Xavier and his family.